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YZDRA 

A TilAGEDY IN ThKEE ACTS 



BY 

LOUIS V. LEDOUX. 



No. 



OF THIRTY COPIES PRINTED FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION 

DECEMBER 1907 



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LIBRARY of CONSniSS. 
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DEC 26 907 

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Copyright 1907 
by 
I.Ol'lS V. LEDOUX 



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4 



^ POROS — Emperor of that portion of India 

now known as the Central Pan jab. 
The Prince — His son. 
A Brahman. 
Kajah of Abhisara. 

Half-witted Boy^ who serves as a Jester. 
Messengers. 
YzDRA^s Nurse. 

and 
YzDRA — Daughter of Poros. 

Greeks : 

Hephaestion — Alexander's favorite General. 

Proteas — A follower of the camp. 

First Soldier. 

Second Soldier. 

Third Soldier. 

A Page. 

A Slave 

and 
Alexander the Great. 

Time: 32GB. C. 



This play is founded upon a story told in the 
Secreta ^ecretoriim, a book which falsely purports 
to be Aristotle's manual of advice to Alexander. 

An English version which dates from about 1400, 
gives the legend as follows : 

"Alexander, thynk of ye doynge of ye Queue of 
Inde whenne she sente to the, by cause to haue thy 
frendschipe, many presentes and noble gyftes 
amonge ye whilke a full fair mayden was sent to 
the that of her childhood drank and was norschyd 
with venyms yn-so-mekyl that her kynde was turned 

to ye kynde of serpentys An,d certainly, but 

thou hadde ben warn^^d by me there-of, thy seluyn 
hadde takyn deed, thurgh ye hete of fleschly ken- 
nynge with here." 



3 

ACT I. 

Scene I. — An outpost in Alexander's camp. 
Scene II. — Throne-room in the palace of Poros. 
Scene III. — Outside the house of Yzdra. 



Scene I. 



An outpost in Alexander's camp between the 
Kyher Pass and the River Indus. Three Greek 
soldiers discovered preparing supper, 

1st S. : Is not that soup ready yet? 

2nd S. : Not yet ; have patience. 

1st S. : 'Tis five years since I left Macedon and in 
all that time have I done nothing else but have 
patience. 'Tis a wonder that I have not yet 
lain down somewhere and patiently given my 
carcass to the vultures. My patience wanes. 

3rd S. : In that we'^agree with you. All the Greeks 
talk of nothing but home. 'Tis long since we 
saw Macedon. 

2nd S. : How much farther is the end of the world, 
think you? 

3rd S. : I know not. They say this India is a vast 
realm and we are now but upon its borders; 
but what may be beyond, or when Alexander 
will have enough of conquest, I cannot guess. 

1st S. : How fares your shoulder? 

2nd S. : But badly ; the wound will not heal. I wish 
that barbarian dart thrower was at the other 
end of my spear. 

1st S. : Pray Zeus that the next barbarians be not 
better marksmen ! 

3rd S. : As for me, I lost a great toe before Thebes, 
was wounded through the body in the battle 
with Darius, and have had many lesser hurts, 



yet do I most complain of these long marches 
whereon hunger feedeth upon me like the vul- 
ture on Prometheus. 

2nd S. : In truth we all should give worship to Pro- 
metheus, for did he not like us, suffer for the 
benefit of others? Our bones cry out with 
weariness and our stomachs with hunger, while 
out of all this pain comes what profit? — Honor 
to Alexander. 

Srd S. : That is so, but for one word of praise from 
him we would all march into the outermost 
ocean or whatever else may be beyond this ac- 
cursed India. 

1st S. : Aye ! There is no one like him. When we 
are hungry, he is without food; when w-e are 
burned or frozen, he is the same. 

3rd S. : Stand! Who comes? 

Enter Alexander. 

Alex. : 'Tis I, the King. How go things here? 

2nd S. : Well, my Lord. 

1st S. : Except for hunger. 

Alex. : It was a hard march to-day, my Children, 
but what are a little hunger and weariness com- 
pared with the honor that we gain? 

3rd S. : May it be known, oh King, whither now 
you lead us? 

Alex. : We are approaching the kingdom of one 
Taxiles, a monarch w^ho rules a fertile land, and 
beyond him, bordered by a great river, is the 
mighty empire of Indian Poros, and beyond 
that I know not. 

2nd S. : 'Tis far from Macedon, my Lord. 

Alex. : Yea, farther than any, save Herakles, ad- 
ventured before us, and none other has reaped 
honor like to ours. Heartily, heartily, my men ! 



When yon return the Greeks will hold yon as 

demigods and those Avho choose to remain I will 

make rulers over fair cities. 
1st 8. : 'Tis so, indeed. 
3rd S. : Honor to Alexander ! 
Alex. : Now farewell, I go throughout the camp 

seeing that none shall lack. 
All: Farewell, oh King. 

Exit Alexander. 

1st S. : Indeed, none can gain such honor as those 

who follow him. 
2nd S. : Nor such riches. 

3rd S. : He will be Emperor of the world ere long. 
2nd S. : The soup is ready. 



Scene II. 



The throne-room in the palace of Poros. The 
Prince and the Rajah are playing at dice; 
others are ivatching the game and lounging 
about the room. Some lean over the players in 
excitement. 

The Prince rises angrily. 

Prince : I play no more ! The time is evil-starred 
And dice have been the bondage of my house. 
I play no more. 

Rajah : My Lord, the luck may change. 

Pr : Again I say the time is evil-starred. 

Last night portentous omens broke my rest, 
A wailing jackal w^ould not let me sleep; 
And once I rose from hidden dreams to see 
If yet the golden car of Surya climbed 
The East, w^hen lo! a raven, croaking, passed. 



I know not what may hap, but this I know, — 
Some fate impendeth in the womb of time. 
Some evil fate, with darkness fraught and 

doom. 
Whose shadow^ now above our royal halls 
Hauojs cloud-like, with its lightnings still in 

leash ; 
But where or how or when the bolt may fall 
I cannot tell. 

Raj. : When lightning strikes, 'tis said 

To choose the tallest trees. 

Pr. : For this I fear 

The gods have sent misfortune's mandate stern 
To me, or to my Sire, whose royal head 
O'ertops our empire in its sovereignty. 

Raj. : Perchance the war with Taxiles ; perchance 
This Grecian Alexander who has come 
Through Persia conquering. 

pR. : Perchance 'tis he. 

The Greeks, indeed, draw near. 

Enter an aged Brahman with two or three 
disciples following. 

Pr. : To you 1 bow, 

Most holy Sage. Your blessing now I crave. 

Tliv Brahman gives his blessing. 

Vii. : We wait the King. 

Br. : I join his council here 

And s])oak to them of oracles fulfilled. 
Raj. : My Lord, the King is even now at liand. 

The sound of trumpets is heard and the 
King enters in state with the tributary 
kings who have a row of thrones on the 
left and lower down than that of Poros; 



behind each is an ensign bearer. Then fol- 
loiv the counsellors J bow-bearers, javelin 
bearers J etc. Poros ascends an ivory 
throne, the arms of idiich are fashioned as 
elephants icith jeicelled eyes. Behind is a 
canopy of peacock plumes. The Prince 
goes to a throne on the rights opposite the 
tributary kings. All bow low while Poros 
ascends. 

Pr. : All-hail the warlike Poros ! 

All: Hail! All-hail! 

Poros motions the Brahman to an empty 
seat beside the Prince and close to the 
throne y and as he approaches it, stands to 
receive the benediction of Holy Water ^ the 
vessel containing which is handed up by 
one of the disciples. During the ceremony 
all boiv low as before. Then, at a sign from 
one of the officials, the trumpet sounds 
three times. The king rises. 

Po. : Be welcome here, ye tributary kings, 

Who, arch-like, prop our dome of sovereignty; 
We bid you welcome here as counsellors ; 
For oft while wisdom searches devious ways, 
A hero grasps with tiger-spring the goal, — 
While wisdom weighs the chances, valor acts 
And action turns the balances of Fate. 

The Rajah of Abhisara, who occupies the 
throne nearest to Poros, rises. 

Raj. : At your behest, dread Lord, once more we 
come, 
And own your lordship. Clouds are we, and 
you 



8 



The lambeut 8un before whose face we shine 
With borrowed splendor. 
Po. : Most, indeed, to him 

Is Avelcome given to a\ horn it most is due ; — 
Our sagest councillor, our noblest friend, 
Who now from lonely meditation deigns 
To come and medicine our ignorance 
With wisdom's healing words. At his request 
Ourself and each whose voice of right is heard 
Are here assembled. All men know that he 
Has store of precious counsels hoarded safe 
Within his mind's rich casket. Jewels these, 
That Life, the miser, yields alone to him 
Who delves, unsatisfied with lesser good. 
Through years of patient toil in wisdom's 

mines, 
As he has done ; for all his life has passed 
In learning to distinguish good and ill, 
The real and unreal. He has watched the stars, 
And fathoming their courses learned of Brahm ; 
The sky has taught him and the populous earth 
To see below the mvriad forms of life. 
Whose evanescent phantoms bloom and fade. 
The broad foundation of eternal calm. 
All this we know; 3^et still w^e lack the key 
That shall unlock his wisdom's guarded wealth : 

7'o i/ic Bralundii. 

We fain would learn the cause which brings us 

here. 
And wait your words; 

(Turning to the others) 

but ere he speak, let all 
Save those who share our counsels pass without. 



9 



Toicards the close of the King's speech, a half- 
witted Jester J clad hi fantastic garb, has crept 
up to the throne and seated himself on the 
steps. 

Pr. : Dost thou share the King's counsel that thou 
sittest there while thy betters withdraw them- 
selves? 

Jest. : Aje, forsooth. Am I not worthy? 

Pr. : What dost thou know more than these? 

He motions ioicard those who are leaving. 

Jest. : I know to remain sober. 

Pr. : Poor Boy ! No one offers to waste good wine 
on thee ; 'twere as well to offer peacock's brains 
to an elephant and say — Good Sir, prithee par- 
take ; the morsel is delicate. 

Po. : Enough of this ; peace, Boy, peace. 

Poros motions him to leave ^ hut he steals in he- 
hind the others and overhears the conference. 

Good Sir, we wait to hear your wisdom speak, 
This Fool has much abused our clemency. 

Br. : The lotus flowers have spread upon the 
streams ; 
The Pleiades have risen, wheeled and set 
Some twenty seasons since the moonless night 
When I, observing fixedly the stars. 
Saw strange conjunctions spelling love and 

death. 
And offered sacrifice, whose omen told 
Of one new-born within the royal house 
Who held the fate of empires in her hand. 

Pr. : Within the royal house? 

Raj. : What maid was that? 



10 



Br. : No more I learned ; but marked within the 
West 
A warlike planet flaming through the sky 
That other stars grew pale and one went out, 
But passing burned a moment lurid, red. 

Pr. : Could wisdom teach you what events might 
cast 
Such shadows on the calm blue eyes of night 
That look upon the world? 

Br. : In doubt I left 

The deep seclusion of my forest life 
And took the long untrodden path which led 
To Avhere ye strove with unrealities. 

Raj. : These unrealities seem real indeed, 

To us who strive, and striving win or lose. 
Your pardon. Sir, I speak untutored words. 
But from the heart. 

Br. : Like soldiers ye are pressed 

By those around and see naught else, but I, 
The chief, observe the general battle's plan. 
Ye strive for present vantage, I for good 
Unseen. 

Pr. : Yet both perchance are naught. Who 

knows? 

Po. : We wander from our purpose. Sir, speak on. 

Br. : I moved through darkness onward till the 
dawn 
Came stealing pallid up a c'jld grey East, 
Wlien met me runners telling how the Queen 
In dying, bore a maid of matchless form — 
Divinely fashioned in her babyhood. 

Pr. : ]My hidden sister! I was then a child. 
But do remember dimly. Lives she yet? 

Po. : She lives, but I have never seen her face. 

Kaj. : That seems most strange. 

Po. : The gods demanded her 

And T did yield, though much against my will. 



11 



Br. : I offered sacrifice to read her fate, 

But sudden blindness fell upon my sight ; 

In trance I stood and tranced thus I spoke; 

^^The gods have willed the tender maid should 
grow 

In solitude, on poisons fed until 

She gains their power, and this in time shall 
be." 
Raj. : On poisons fed, to grow a poisonous thing ! 
Pr. : On poisons ! Sire, to rear a Princess thus 

Is horrible! 
Po. : Yet thus the gods decreed 

She should be reared; and I obeyed their will. 

On poisons she was fed. 
Pr. : But for what end? 

Po. : The gods no reasons gave. 
Br. : At least not then, 

For on my eyes the day returning rolled; 

I knew no more. The King remembers well 

My words oracular, but ye are strange 

To these most sure events I now relate. 
Po. : Aye, well do I remember ; and the babe 

Was given in charge unto a skillful nurse, 

By this same Brahman brought. They took her 
hence. 

And sent report each year of how the maid 

To fuller stature grown, grew still more fair. 
Br. : As wise as fair^ for I have taught her much. 
Po. : At last her youth has bloomed to womanhood 

More strangely beautiful than Love itself; 

But so her life is with the poison charged 

That death to man within her kisses lurks. 
Br. : The King speaks truth ; her kiss is present 
death. 

She kills with sweetness like a poisoned flower. 
Pr. : This is an awful thing. 
Raj. : And very strange. 



12 



Pr. : I almost doubt its truth. 

Br. : Yet true it is. 

lvA.j. : But have you any proof? 

Po. : We need no proof 

Bej^ond the oracle, yet proof there is. 

Br. : Not long ago she kissed a little child 

And some few hours thereafter, lo ! it died. 

Pr. : That leaves no doubt. 

Raj. : It might have had the fever. 

Po. : Tis impious to doubt ; I am convinced. 

Raj. : The fever was abroad; it might have been; 
And yet this death confirms the oracle; 
It must indeed be true. 

Po. : The truth is clear, 

But what the further will of Siva i)lans 
For her I may not guess; nor whose the lot 
To cull this deadly flower of loveliness. 

Jes. : Aside. 

Oh, horrible ! horrible ! I pray Siva that she 
be not preserved for me. 

Br. : Now come we to the point. Three night agone 
A dream disturbed my rest, with presage dark, 
That thus I do interpret. Persia's king — 
The Grecian Alexander, eastward leads 
His conquering armies. Men and power are 

his— 
The Macedonian phalanx none can face; 
Besides, the gods, of favour, grant him youth 
With riper wisdom temi)ered; courage, skill. 
And steadfast purpose. Now let Poros send 
To him the maid, enrobed in loveliness. 
To offer friendship from our kingdcmi's chief, 
And bind in marriage bonds himself to us. 
Thus wisdom reaches where your valour fails; 
The youth is amorous and frank withal. 
And would accept such offers frankly made. 
If backed with other gifts befitting kings; 



o 



1.^ 



But let him once her poisonous kisses drink 
He dies a present death — most sure and swift. 
Po. : No need of this ! I fear not any man ; 

Much less this Grecian. What have we to fear 
Who lead against him fifty thousand men 
With chariots and elephants ! Could he 
With used, wayworn troops, afar from home, 
Defeat our army and subdue ourself! 
'Tis madness thus to think ! I will not stoop 
To crave alliance with this upstart youth, 
W^ho smote the iNXedes in beds of luxury, 
And. knows not how a w^arrior people fight. 
We wait his coming. Should he dare to come 
We meet him battling manlike, face to face. 
We fear him not; what says our valiant son? 

During this speech^ the General and the trib- 
utary kings have shown signs of approval. The 
prince lias stood i^i deep thought. 

Kaj. : Aside, 

Though valorous in action, slow to stril^e, 
I fear his counsel. 

Pr. : Slowly and thoughtfully. 

Sire, your words are just; 
Before your age, your wisdom anci your throne 
I bow submissive, yet my thought finds voice. 
•Tis rashness more than bravery to fight 
Unnecessary battles, risking thus, 
Through pride, our subjects, wealth and 

empery ; 
And when the gods have shown in oracles — 
By him made manifest w^ho speaks their will, 
The way to cope with present circumstance, 
To choose another means were blasphemous. 
And fraught with swift disaster : Gods avenge. 

Raj. : My Liege, tilj i;ow has Taxiles alone 



14 



With unsubmissive eyes beheld your reign; 

Your only foe was he ; jour only dread ; 

And first to him must Alexander come 

In marching eastward from the bounds of Ind. 

Then like an eagle when two lions fight, 

Will you, unscathed, behold the bloody strife, 

Until upon the victor, torn and weak, 

You swoop with conquering pinions. Thus, my 

Lord, 
Your foes defeat each other. Yours the spoils. 
Po. : Let Taxiles and Alexander fight ! 

We sitting watchful, strike when both are weak. 
No need to bend our ro^^al dignity 
Before young Macedon. 

To the Brahman 

Your pardon. Sir, 
That thus we plan our present policy 
Observing not your precepts. Thanks we give 
And reverence. Your wisdom passes ours 
But not in this. 

Br. : N<^y> bear me speak ; the 

gods 

Po. : You have not read in this, their will aright. 
Our choice is clear. 

Raj. : And just. 

PR. : • My Father, pause ! 

Po. : Rising angrily. 

I overrule all further conference. 

Enter a messenger hastily. He is soiled ivith 
travel. He hows and Poros motions him to 
speak. 

Mes. : Taxiles has received Alexander into his cap- 
ital and has formed an alliance with him for the 



15 



purpose of conquering our kingdom. They are 
already collecting reinforcements, but the 
Grecian plans to rest his army for some weeks 
before starting. 

Br. : The gods are swift avengers. 

Pr. : Ah, the gods ! 

The General and the tributary Icings look dum- 
founded. 

Raj. : With Taxiles and Alexander both 
We cannot cope. 

Po. : Our will is overruled 

, By Siva's will. The maiden shall be sent; 
Let some provide a stately embassage 
And fitting gifts. Abhisara shall lead. 

To the Brahman. 

Do you instruct the Princess in our will, 
But let her not suspect her poisonous power. 

He botes to the Brahman and then as the cur- 
tain falls, he goes out folloived by his train. 



m 

Scene III. 

A jasmine hoiver under a blossoming mango 
ti^ec, outside the forest home of Yzdra. A prac- 
ticable door on the right. 

Y'zdrw discovered tcalking about and talking, to 
the Ntirse^ who sits at the base of the tree. 
Yzdra resembles Foros slightly, but enough to 
suggest the idea of heredity.. 

Yz. : The niglit has laid once more its soothing hand 
Upon the eyes of Life; I sometimes dream 
That love is like the moonlight after day — 
A touch of peace; and then the ligjitning flash 
Seems like to love ; — this love I have not known 
But fain would know. Ah me ! My heart is sick 
To-night. I long — and yet for what I long 
I cannot tell. 

Sh^- motpes about touching the flo'Wers^ tenderly. 

The placid moonlight rests 
Upon m}'- jasmine flowers that gleam like stars; 
Thie timid fawns^ the birds are all at peace, 
Save only Bulbul, who with passionate heart 
Still yearns, and yearning cries across the night 
A sadness undelined tiiat answers mine. 
How beautiful is this our forest home, 
Where every season brings some fresh delight; 
And yet I find no more the old content 
In birds and flowers, the moonlight and the 
(lawn. 

After a pause, she goes over to tJie nurse, kneels 
down and starts to put her cheek against the 
nursc^s. The nurse shrinks away and pushes 
her back. 



17 



My life is incomplete, it something lacks; 
Perchance this very love I dream about. 
Would I be happy could I feel a kiss — 
A warrior's kisses burning on my lips, 
Strong hands about my breasts; a man's strong 

hands 
And not like his — the only man I know? 
This Brahman makes me shudder, yet is kind. 

Nurse : It may be even now a lover comes. 

Yz:. playfully. Who seeks for me alone through- 
out the world? 

The nurse makes an ill-tempered gesture of as- 
sent. 

And Kama's shafts at last shall sting in me — 
No more a girl, but woman fully grown? 

Enter the Brahman. He hears the last lines. 

Be. : You dream of love ; I love's fulfillment bring. 

He blesses her. The nurse goes into the house. 

Yz. : With blessing, holy Sage, your pardon give 
That thus my inmost mind is disarrayed. 
And all my heart disclosed to your ear. 
Accept, although delayed, no less sincere 
A welcome. 
Br. : Fair you seem to-night, and pure 

As conquering souls that merge themselves in 

Brahm. 
'Tis right a maiden's heart should dream of 
love, 
. For so the gods have willed. 

These moonlit flowers 
With nature's incense fill the drowsy air ; 
'Twere hard, my Child, to leave so sweet a spot ! 



18 



Yz. : Not hard for me ! I full confession make, 
Since you of half my counsel are aware, 
This solitude and silence pall me quite ; 
A woman grown, I long for woman's life ; — 
To see the ways of cities and the court, 
To know the valiant princes of my race, 
To smile above the tourney, choosing out 
Some hero w^ho will call me Queen and Wife; 
And after that to live as she of whom 
Our ancient writings speak, whose love was 

strong 
To bend relentless Yama to its will, 
And bring her lord from death's domain to life. 
And then I long to do some worthj^ deed. 
Or service for the state. 

Br. : Aye, that were good. 

Yz. : 'Tis surely best to live and not to dream. 

With double meaning; — half to himself. 

Br. : A maiden's dreams are far indeed from life. 

Yz. : Full-well I know the blossoming of flowers, 
The KoeFs cry, the rise and set of stars, 
But yet I miss the meaning of the world 
Off here, alone ; of much rest ignorant, 
And much — jrea, very much I lack. Good Sir, 
My words are wild and may offend, but speak 
I must. 

I^R- ■ Some deed of courage you would do? 

Yz. : To do is mine, to act, for I am strong, — 
Yea, very strong, and was not born to Avatch 
The dull monotony of dawn and dusk 
In meaningless jjassivity. There flows 
Within my veins a warrior-people's blood; 
I long to live my life before men's eyes, — 
A Princess of my house. 

Br. : What would you do? 



19 



Yz. : What Siva plans for me — that would I do, 
But well I know I was not made for this 
Half -life, grown empty now of good or charm. 
I long to live my life, to do some deed, 
And live in fame to future ages sung. 

Br. : You have been still a child, but now you seem 
A very woman, yea, a Queen indeed. 

Yz. : Part girl, part woman, and part man I think, 
But all alive with youth and eagerness 
To do and dare, to live and greatly love. 
Ah, life I crave with all its splendid chance, 
Its days of action and its nights of love ; 
Not this poor shadow- world wherein I faint ; 
Yet know my strength. 

Br. : What further would you ask 

Or tell? 

Yz. : The nurse, who loved me well of old, 

Has acted strangely toward me, now no more 
She lets me nestle close, or kiss her cheek, 
As was my w^ont. And once, not long ago — 
It was the day I found the first spring rose, 
There came a child, w^ho, heeding not his way, 
Had hither roamed. I took the baby up 
And held it to my heart and kissed its lips, 
WHien lo ! mj nurse came running in afright. 
And snatched the child away ; but ere the dusk 
A fearful sickness through his body stole ; 
And when the morning bloomed the child was 

dead. 
But she avoids my questions, tells me naught. 

Enter Nu7'se. 

I ask you this : Why should the child have died? 

The Nurse and the Brahman look at each other 
significantly. She shoics by a gesture that she 
cannot or will not answer. 



20 

Br. : The fever kills thus swiftly oftentimes. 
Yz. : But why must I-^a woman — live deprived 

Of full-orbed life and love? You cage me here 

By what authority? 
Br.: To Nurse. Poor child, Poor child! 

This life she craves bears bitter fruit for her ; 

Y^et mandates of the gods must be obeyed. 

To Yzdra. 

My Yzdra, now has come the time of your 

Releasement; now I lead you out toward life, 

That seems so beautiful when seen afar — 

Toward life and love. 
Yz. : Toward love? O tell me who! 

What way of life is mine, what happy fate? 
Br. : With you I go to seek an Emperor 

Who rules o'er half the world — a valiant man 

And young ; to him would Poros give your hand, 

A bond of fii*m alliance 'twixt the states. 

The rest I shall unfold within the house. 
Nurse : A bond of death ! I would not have his lot. 
Yz. : Dreamily. 

An emperor, a valiant man and young ! 

Tiirnhig to him: 

How could a maiden reared in forest ways 

And ignorant of courts succeed to please 

A king like liiiii — 

( Murniuriiif/) who ruh's o'er half the world? 
Bu. : A woman's instinct teaches more than courts. 
Yz. : But look I The petals of the dawn unfold. 

Like woman's love from girlhood blossoming — 

A presage this of future happiness. 
Br. : I follow you within. 
Yz. : Till then, farewell. 

She boxes for his blessing and then walks gladly 
toward the house. 



21 

Br.: (to nurse): At court will Poros give you 
recompense. 
We shall not need you more. 
Yz. : Can she not come? 

Br. : You will not want her in the new glad life. 
Yz. : Farewell, then, Nurse, and give me joy at last. 

She goes up to embrace her. The nurse shoves 
her away. 

Nurse : Nay, touch me not. 

To the Brahman. I am well rid of her. 
I go to seek the King and claim my wage. 
Yz. : You will not say "FarcAvell?'' 

The 'Nurse goes off toivard the forest. 
Yzdra looTcs sadly after her for a moment. 

What can it mean? 

Exit Yzdra toward the hoi^se, 

Br. : After a pause. Watching her. 

The ways of Fate are dark and hard to tread. 

Enter Rajah. 

Raj. : I trust she will be ready by the morn. 
Br. : Aye ! ready will she be, and glad she is 

To learn of life. 
Raj. : Poor child ! She does not guess 

Her power? 
Br. : No, and never shall guess till 

The deed is done; for all the retinue, 

Except ourselves, are ignorant as she. 
Raj. : I sent the King's j)rovision to her house. 
Br. : Much yet remains to do ; I go within. 



22 



Raj. : She must be kept aloof from all her maids. 

Br. : I will arrange for that. 

Raj. : Now fare you well. 

Exeunt — the Brahman toicard the house and 
the Rajah into the forest. 

The stage is vacant for a moment^ then attend- 
ants carry equipments into the house. One 
of them leaves a spear beside the door. After 
they have come out again, enter Yzdra from the 
house. Voices are heard within. 

Yz. : Oh, Life ! Life ! Life ! An emperor and young; 
A valiant man ; and Persia's king as well. 
Have dreams come true? My head is all awhirl. 
But why have I been kept till now, so long 
In solitude and ignorance? Why must they still 
Slink sideways from my questions, tell me not 
What most I seek to learn — why this has been ? 
There is some mystery ; but now, ah, well ! 
It does not matter now, for life is mine. 
But, soft ! for someone comes. 

Enter the Jester from the forest. He appears 
frightened and disheveled and looks about Jam 
half timorously, half vacantly. 

Yz. : What wouklst thou here? 

Jes. : I folU^Aved on their track that I might see 

Them when they start. 
Yz. : Who start, and who art thou? 

Jes. : It has been very dark and far it seems 

From home. I wish that I were back again. 

What noise is that? 
Yz. : A beast that passed, no more. 

Jios. : I wisli that I were safely back again. 
Yz. : Whence didst thou come? 



^3 



Jes. : ' I know not who you are. 

Yz. : I am the Princess Yzdra ; who art thou ? 
Jes. : The Princess Y^zdra? 
Yz. : N^y? it is not strange 

That thou hast never heard of me, for all 

My life till now has passed in solitude — 

Alone from infancy. 
Jes. : ^ot quite understanding hut rememhering 
dimly. 

In solitude? 

Alone? 

Yzdra moves toioard him. 

Yz. : But tell me what thou seekest, then 

The Brahman here will teach us of the way. 
Jes. : The Brahman? Y'ou, alone? 

She steps nearer him and he shrinks atoay, but 
does not yet quite realize loho she is. 

Yz. : I wonder why 

This boy seems so afraid of me. Poor thing ! 
The Princess I ; I would not hurt thee. Come. 

He looks around as though wanting to run, 
hut Goivers hack against the tree. 

Jes. : The Princess ! Off! Standoff! 

Yz. : Poor boy ! Poor boy ! 

As she moves still nearer to him, he seizes a 
stone as if to throio it at her. 

In truth I w^ould not hurt thee. See how kind 
I am. Thou seemest like a little child 
Whom I could hold beside me ; almost kiss 
In pity. 



24 

He starts to throw the stone-, hut, seeing her 
step up to him, evidently unafraid, he hesitates. 

Why, wliat ails thee now? But see 
How kind the hand that rests upon thy head. 
JES. : O gods ! The poisoned kiss ! The poisoned kiss ! 
I would not die. 'Twas not for me they reared 
You thus. Oh, touch me not. 

He eowcrs doivn at her feet. She places her 
hand gently on his head. 

The kiss ! and death ! 
He falls on the ground, sohhing convulsively. 

Yz. : The kiss and death? The poisoned kiss? 

^Twas not 
For me they reared you thus? Oh, touch me not? 
The kiss and death? The poisoned kiss? What 

can 
He mean? Poor boy, his wits are all distraught. 

Moving from him, then, after a pause, looking 
around at hiin. 

Poor boy. 

IS Ik; stands ninsiiuj. 

The poiscmed kiss. The kiss and death. 

She shakes her head; and then, suddenly begin- 
ning to understand, a look of agony comes into 
her face. 

The child I kissed lliat died. My forest life. 
The nurse that shrinks away. 

Wildly. 

It cannot be ! 



25 



She staggers and supports herself against the 
tree. 

Why lead me out and show me aught of life, 
If life is not for me? 

Thi7iJcing. 

The poisoned kiss. 

And death. He said what else? I must re- 
member. 

He said 'twas not for him. What then? For 
whom? 

Suddenly understanding it all. 

For Alexander death ! 

And what for me? 
I must learn more. 

As she staggers toward the Jester, the Brahman 
enters, '* 

Thou crawling snake ! Thou mock 
Of holiness ! What good to thee shall come 
From Alexander's death, my poisoned life? 
Br. : What meaneth this? 
Yz. : Trying to control herself. 

He told — he told me all. 

The Brahman makes a sudden movement toward 
the J ester y and then, changing his mind, steps 
to the door and motions an attendant. He 
ivliispers to him and then the attendant leads 
out the Jester. 

Br. : Half to himself. 

No prattle more from him. 
Yz. : Thou takest life — 

A human life aganst the holy Law? 



26 

Br. : The Law must bend before necessity. 

Yzdra, seizing the spear and stepping towards 
him. 

Yz. : Then I take thine, thou jackal masked as man, 
Thou grey hyena tricked in holy weeds ; 
The blood of all the princes of my race 
Comes battling upward round about my heart ; 
Unsexed, I stand a hero of my house, 
And claim the vengeance due, a coward's death. 

She steps forivard to strike Mm; hut he gazes 
at her unflinchingly and raises his hand, exer- 
cising his old authority over her. 

Br. : Turn not on me, my child, but pause and think. 
Yz. : But pause and think, with all ni}^ life a wreck? 

'Tis time to strike, not think; to strike with 
hate. 

To trample out your life and spurn you hence. 
Br. : You go to Alexander; should he die. 

His queen would hold dominion o'er the world. 

To rule the world were not so hard a lot. 
Yz. : O base, base, base as demons scorned by 
Braliin! 

I would not stoop to this — a coward's deed. 

She commences to break doion under the strain. 

But tell me why my life is poisoned thus. 
Br. : Yzdra, you have but me to trust ; no more 
A child, but woman fully grown, I trust 
Your womanhood, your blood, and tell you all. 
Before your birth the gods decreed that you 
Should live on poisons, gain this poisonous 
power. 



27 



But kept their reasons hid until but now, 
When oracles revealed the state must fall — 
The King, your Father, lose his rule, his life. 
Unless the Grecian army's march were stopped 
By death to Alexander brought by you. 

Yz. : But what of me, who had my life to live — 
My happy human life, my hope of love. 
That you have baffled darkly from my birth? 
I stand here impotent and gaze at life, 
A nameless horror, loathed by the world. 
Give back the life you took away from me ! 

Br. : Not loathed by the world but named of men 
In bright emblazonr^^ on honor's scroll, 
As she who saved her country, saved her sire, 
A maiden hero worthy of her race. 

Yz. : What owe I to a sire I never saw — 

A sire who leagued with thee to break my life? 

Br. : The gods have willed, and gods must be obeyed. 

Yz. : I will not do it ; could not stoop so low. 

Br. : Rising to his full dignity and threatening her. 
The mandates of the gods must be obeyed ; 
If not, upon your soul the consequence. 

Yz. : It cannot be ! 

Br. : Have you forgot so soon 

The hour I told you of your Father's will? 

Yz. : Oh, God ! So sweet it was ! 

Br. : You told me then 

You longed to do some service for the state ; 
To do some mighty thing, some valiant deed ; 
And now you falter w^hen the chance is come. 

Yz. : It was my dream of girlhood. 

Br. : Poros asks 

His daughter to be worthy of her Sire — 
To give herself, as many men have given 
Themselves, to save your land and ancient race. 

Yz. : I am a Princess worthy of my line ; 
I would obey my Sire, obey the gods, 



28 

Would save the state and be a Queen in all ; 
But not through baseness. 
Br. : This would not be base. 

Yz. : I could not do it. 

Br. : Yet you could not live 

The life you dreamed, whichever course you 
chose. 

The expression of hate eomes hack into her face. 
She steps forward^ grasping the spear tightly^ 
and is about to strike^ hut pauses again, over- 
awed hy the old authority. 

In one your name will be forever praised 
As she who -loved her country, served her gods ; 
The other course, if taken, brands your name 
As one who, disobeying King and gods 
Through woman's weakness, fell as falls a tree 
By lightning shattered. Not alone this life 
You lose; through bleak eternities of lives 
The gods will hunt j^ou, flying from their 

wrath — 
A horror to yourself, a name of scorn. 
Yz. : It cannot be! It cannot, cannot be! 

Reaching out her hands to him (ippcalingly. 

1 could have been so happy living life, 
A woman merely in some humble lot; 
A wife and mother feeling tiny hands. 
Beached out for my protecting mother love; 
Or just a careless girl to live as once 
Among my jasmine bowers and dream of life. 
So little would have made me happy; now 

I5u. : Aye, now yon choose the brand of infamy, 
Or glory ever brigiitening, sung of men, 
A name for poets' hearts to conjure with. 

Yz.: I «<Mil(l Imve heen so happy, w(mld have asked 



59 



So little. Oh, to sink at once in Brahm 

Forgetting all the pain, the broken hope ! 

And yet I would find vengeance ere I die ! 
Br. : You choose the way of duty marked divine. 
Yz. : It may be I shall try. Now leave me here 

Alone, yea, all alone. I cannot stand 

It more. In pit}^ for my weakness go. 

It may be I shall do it. Go. 
Br. : I go, 

But charge you on your conscience, for your 
weal, 

To do the gods' high will, and save the state. 

She sinks doivn, hiding her face. 
Yz. : Go ! But go ! 

As he moves aivay, she falls to the ground, 

Br. : The gods decree that you 

Shall save your people and your father. Now 
I go. A little later j(fu yourself 
Will see where honor points. Till then farewell. 

Yz. : Rising. 

I shall do what I will; m}^ life is mine — 
My little left of life — nor OAve I aught 
To country or to kin, to you or him. 
But vengeance, vengeance, vengeance! Now 
begone. 

Br. : Consent unto our plan or die to-night. 

Yz. : Or die to-night ! 

Br. : Aye, such is Poros' will. 

You know the choice. Farewell. 

Yz. : Or death to-night ! 



'&' 



(End of Act I.) 



30 ^ 

ACT II. 

Alexander's quarters at the court of Taxiles. 

A pavilion tent. Two pi^acticahle doors on 
either side of the 'bach, one leading to an inner 
pavilion and the other to the camp. Betiveen 
them is a couch ivith steps leading up to it, and 
a low altar at one side. Alexander, Eephaes- 
tion and a Page discovered. Alexander re- 
clines on the couch. The Page sings. 

Is this but dream ! 
So close I seem 

To hold 
The lips, the breast 
My passion pressed 

Of old. 

Again one kiss ! — 
The moment's bliss 

Is fled, 
Like joy that flies 
Ere yet surprise 

Be dead. 

Alex. : Wliat, lono-ing still for Macedon, my Page! 
Are not these Indian maidens fair enough? 
To Ilcphaestion. 
Perchance some langurous Persian charms his 

thoughts 
To swift Pinarus' stream where Persia fell. 
Tlie captive maids were fair. 

^^^'^^- • Indeed, my Lord, 

We lost as many captives as we took— 
But we to women yielded, they to men; 
Full half our army wear the Persian yoke. 



31 



Alex. : It is my plan to fuse at length in one 
The many nations bound beneath my rule; 
And inter-marriage builds foundations firm 
For future empire. 

Heph. : Greece has owned your sway ; 

Athens and Sparta dread 3"our God-sent power; 
Cilicia, Egypt, Lydia, Scythia, Crete, 
Are yours; the Medes and Persians call you 

Lord, 
Oh son of Zeus ! Great Asia's Emperor ! 

Alex. : Not jet is all of Asia in our hand, 
Nor can it be until this Poros bends 
His stubborn pride to sue our clemency 
For life and realm ; on him we march, and when 
His head shall bow, a reed before the wind 
Of our swift onslaught, when his armies flee 
Like scattered sand before Sirocco's blast. 
Then ma^^st thou call me "King," for none 

but he 
Is strong to stop our progress for a day. 

Heph. : To Taxiles, our hosf, this day has come 
A further reinforcement for our aid. 

Alex. : His friendship cheers the troops. 

Heph. : Would Poros now 

Alliance make, as Taxiles has done, 
It would be well. 

Alex. : How seem the men to-day? 

Heph. : They talk no -more of home and child and 
wife, 
But each of valor brags to new-found friends, 
And all seem well disposed for further wars. 

Alex. : 'Tis well ! Ourself will pass again from 
tent 
To tent and cheer their reborn courage on, 
With speech of ancient sieges and the spoils; 
Of honor won and honor yet to gain. 
How like you India? 



32 



Heph. : Wellj indeed, my Liege ; 

The Indian men are brave, the women fair; 

The land itself is rich in things of worth. 

Could Aristotle, though he taught your youth, 

Surpass these Brahman sages? 
Alex. : Much I doubt. 

Who comes? 
Heph. : The motley minded Proteas. 

Enter Proteas with an air of great importance. 
He is dressed in the Persian fashion and pros- 
trates himself before Alexander in the manner 
of the Persians. 

Alex. : He is as blown up with his tidings as is a 
horse with the wind colic; yet would it be safe 
to gage a province that the matter of his tid- 
ings is of no more weight than air. 
Heph. : My Liege, if the message seem to him of so 
much importance, its burden must be chiefly 
of himself. Perhaps he is in need of money. 
Alex. : Now Zeus forbid ! 

It is the way of men of little worth to give 
themselves airs of importance, to swell and to 
strut, whenever anything, however trivial, gets 
into the liollowness of their skulls. 
Heph. : One would think he came with India in his 
right hand. Mount Olympus in his left, and a 
half dozen provinces tucked under his arms, 
that he might offer you a small token of his 
esteem. 
Alex. : Well, let us hear. 

Speak uj), most worthy Proteas, and tell us 
what god fills thy sails with the breath of his 
inspiration. 
PitOT. : Would the son of Ammon, the friend of 
Ares, the emperor of the world, most valiant 



33 



and most mighty, deign in the magnificent 
lavishness of his kicdness to hear tidings from 
me who, merely man, prostrate mj^self dumb 
before his divinitj^ 

Alex. : Now may Hermes aid thee ! Speak on. 

Prot. : My Liege, there waits without an embassy. 

Alex. : I pray Zeus, the protector of strangers, to 
forgive thee tlieir waiting. What is the appear- 
ance of this embassy, and from whom comes it? 

Prot. : It is, my Lord, an embassy of most magnifi- 
cent appearance ; the very elephants are adorn- 
ed like our Grecian courtezans, from mere 
homesickness I did almost love them ; the leader 
is a man of most admired comeliness, and be- 
side him ride a maiden veiled and a Brahman 
who seems old enough to be great-uncle to 
Kronos. 

Alex. : But didst thou not learn from whence they 
come? 

Prot. : From one who calls himself an emperor — 
Poros by name. 

The manner of Alexander suddenly changes y 
taking on the force and swiftness of a man of 
action and the dignity of an emperor. 

Alex. : To Hephaestion. 

Bring in the embassy; we meet them here; 

At once. 
Heph. : Moving toivard the door. 

The gods obey your will, my Liege. 

Enter the Rajah, the Brahman, etc. 

While they make their obeisance, others spread 
costly gifts at the feet of Alexander, 



34 

Alex. : Accept our kingly welcome for yourselves 
And him who sends you. For his gifts so rich, 
And something strange unto our Grecian eyes, 
We give their certain due, an emperor's thanks. 
In this with Poros we ourself will vie. 
Returning friendship with munificence. 

Raj. : To your dread feet, great Emperor, we come 
From Poros, who has filled our mouths with 

words 
Of friendly greeting. These unworthy gifts 
Are but the shadow of his good intent. 

Alex. : What will has Poros other then to give? 

Raj. : The honor of alliance. Furthermore, 
He offers aid should you such aid require 
In following ever eastward conquest's path; 
Safe conduct for your troops across his realm, 
And you yourself he fain would make his guest. 

Alex. : This offer, frankly made, we would accept 
With equal frankness. 

Raj. : One thing more, my Liege, 

The King with faith in your acceptance charged 
This IJrahman, who is chief of all the realm 
In wisdom and philosophy, with words 
More fit for him to utter than for me. 

Alex. : Philosophers and poets we have held 

.More worthy lumiage than are sceptered kings. 
The diadem of thought upon his brow 
Compels our reverence. 

Be welcome here. 

The Brahman motions an attendant, icho goes 
to the door and ushers in Yzdra, veiled, and her 
maidens; then the Brahman walks slowly over 
to Yzdra and lifts the veil. Alexander starts 
in surprise and glances at Hephaestion, who 
looks at him. 



35 



Alex. : Aside to Hephacstion. 

Think you, could Phryne's self have been more 
fair? 

Heph. : Not Phryne, nor the wave-born Cyprian. 

Br. : O son of Amnion, Poros purposing 
To bind himself to you, yourself to him 
In bonds more lasting than a kingdom's troth ; 
Has bade me offer you for Queen and wife - 
His only daughter, whom he loves right well — 
Tlie Princess Yzdra. He — 

During this speech Alexander has shown in- 
creasing emotion and now^ without waiting for 
the Brahman to finish^ he interrupts^ speaking 
rapidly. Yzdra has been looking toward the 
ground, hut tcith the first lines of the following 
speech she looks up at him in surpi^ise and from 
here on shoivs an ever increasing interest in 
him. At the close of the scene her voice and 
her manner indicate that she is deeply touched 
hy his courtesy. - 

Alex. : A woman's heart 

Is gift more precious than a king can give. 
It has not been my custom to extend 
My conquests thus, or take unto myself 
The maids that came within my power. The 

wife 
And daughter of Darius both received 
Full grace. And yet, because the maid is fair, 
And somewhat also for the kingdom's weal, 
I would be glad of this ; if she were glad, 
And came without enforcement — giving love. 
What says the maiden? 

Br. : Sire, a name like yours 

Wakes love in women's hearts. 

Alex. : But what says she? 



:6 



Yz. : My father wills. I lie within your hand ; 
And yet an Indian Princess yields not thus 
Her quick consent. The daughters of my house 
Have pride of lineage and strength of will; 
We choose from those who prove themselves 
for us. 
Alex. : So proud and fair; you seem a Queen in all. 
And yet you come not quite unwillingly 
To crown your beauty with my name and 
realm ? 
Yz. : Your Grecian cupid shoots one single shaft, 
And Grecian bosoms yield them to the w^ound. 
The Indian God of Love has arrows five 
With flowers bai-bed, and with each flying 

shaft 
He seeks a separate sense. W^hen all have 

flown 
And Love gains access through the several 

wounds, 
Then only Indian women yield their hearts. 
Alex. : I trust not to my armies or my state, 
My kingly order or divine descent, 
To storm this citadel of love, but trust 
My manhood simply, and the strength I own. 
Hepliaostion, see our guests are well bestowed. 
'HErii. : i will, my lord. 
,Alex. : To the Itajali. 

This afternoon we hold 
S(mie further conference, and then will ask 
More fully of your country and your king, 
Of whom the voice of rumor speaks afar. 
To Yzdra. 

Of you, my Queen, I beg the courtesy 
Of taking these, my quarters, for your use. 
Yz. : I would not dispossess you. 
Alex. : Soldiers find 

Their home, their comfort, anywhere. 



37 



Yz. : I thank 

You, King, for this — 

(Speaking very low) and all your courtesy. 
Alex. : Ere Phoebus stays his golden chariot wheels 

I come to you and crave an audience ; 

But first must make inspection of the host; 

Perchance, my Princess, you would care to 
come 

And smile upon the troops? 
Yz. : Indeed, my Lord. 

Exeunt. 

The stage is darkened for a moment to give the 
lapse of time. 

Enter the Brahman and the Rajah. 

Br. : They have not yet returned. 

Raj. : It makes me laugh 

To think of viewing thus the host which soon — 

Its leader dead — will pass like summer snow. 
Br. : Not gently will it pass'^; for, when the troops 

Are left without their king, each petty chief 

Will seek supreme command, and Grecian 
blood. 

By Grecian swords set free, will flow un- 
stanched. 
Raj. : Then Taxiles will turn upon his guests. 

And each will murder each while we look on 

And laugh, content. 
Br. : From far will we look on ! 

Once Alexander dead, our gracious host — 

"Friend Taxiles" — from forced friendship 
lapsed. 

Would wreak his will. 
Raj. : 'Twere well indeed to fly 

And make what speed we can before the youth 



o 



8 



Has quaffed the deadly sweetness of her lips, 
For should suspicion pass but near our names, 
An instant death would follow. 

Br. : When he dies, 

His army, mad with grief, must spend its hate 
On Taxiles, and thus we catch two birds 
Who took themselves for eagles with one snare. 
The girl pla^^ed well her part and drew him on 
With beauty's swift allurement. 

Raj. : She I thought 

Seemed not averse to answering his love 
With love returned, for just ere they went out 
A strange new light came gleaming in her eyes. 
New accents tuned her voice and made it sweet. 
Did you observe the change? 

Br. : I also saw ; 

But should she love, it could not hurt our plan. 

Raj. : Nay, rather would it help us ; for her heart 
Will join her mind, and both, with doubled 

power, 
And purpose doubly strong, will strive to wake 
In him the passion that fulfils our aim. 

Br. : Ay, loving, she will seek with stronger will 
To win him to her arms; but, loving not, 
Hor mind is sot to do the lioly deed. 

Raj. : In either case we gain our purpose. 

iUi. : Yea. 

The Rajah u-alJcs to the door ami looks out. 

Raj. : They are not coming yet. I would we knew 
If h)ve so long delays them on tlieir way. 

Br. : When love points out the path, the way grows 
long 
In time, but short to sense. 

K^^J- • . 'Twere well to know. 



39 

Enter Hephaestion. 

Raj. : We wait the coming of the King, my Lord. 
Heph. : I also seek the King. 
Br. : They tarry long. 

Heph. : But now I crossed a corner of the camp, 
And all men spoke to me with one glad voice 
Of how our Emperor and your fair Queen 
Had gleamed an instant there on all men's 

sight. 
It seems the King proclaimed a feast to-night 
In honor of your embassy and told 
How not with pain across your stained spears 
Would we your kingdom enter, but as guests, 
With garlands decked and feasting by the way ; 
And Avhen he showed in sign of peace and 

truth — 
More sweet than peace herself, the matchless 

maid, 
A murmur spread among the host that soon 
To general tumult rose *n glad acclaim; 
But they rode on and sought each other's eyes. 
Br. : Perchance they cannot pass athwart the 

crowd. 
Heph. : The soldiers throng about them praising 
both. 

A sound of shouting is heard in the distance. 
Hephaestion steps to the door and looks out. 

Heph. : They come with half the army following. 

The sound of cheering gradually becomes more 
distinct and then enter Alexander and Yzdra, 
the latter flushed with excitement. The sol- 
diers shout again and Yzdra goes to the door 
while Alexander stands hehind her looking at 
them. As she turns to come hack toicard the 



center^ she sees the Brahman loatching her, 
shudders and tries to regain her composure, 
losing in a moment her joyousness. Alexander 
greets the three men^ hut is all the while watch- 
ing Yzdra. He steps over to her as she stands 
glancing at the Brahman arid trying to regain 
control of herself. 

Alex, : The audience I craved this afternoon 
Must now be held, so many silken hours 
Have slipped unfelt between our wayward 
fingers. 

Yzdra stands motionless. He glances at the 
three men who how and go out. 

Queen, I claim the greeting promised by 
Those Avondrous eastern eyes that charmed my 

sense. 
You will not' give me welcome? 
Yz. : Welcome, King. 

Suddenly and rapidly 

Y(m must forgive me that I am o'ercome; 
Tlie sudden view of greatness opening out 
Has filled mine eyes with mist, my mind with 

ch)ud 
And sometliing too of girlhood's diffidence 
Oj>presses me. I am not very old. 
Have not seen much of life and mighty kings. 

Alex. : And yet you come not quite unwillingly? 

Yz. : I hardly know as yet. Oh, give me time! 

Alex. : Nay, time for what, my Queen. 

^ ^- • In girlhood oft 

I dreamed as maidens do of future love, 
Of how a king wcmld come and win my heart 



41 



By valour, courtesy and kingly mien, 
A mighty king he was, a noble man. 
Alex. : A mighty king am I, perchance a man 
Not all unworthy of a maiden's dream; 
But now your beauty bows me king and man, 
To seek your throne of womanhood and sue — 
A captive, prostrate there, for life and love. 

Yz. : For life and love ! 

(Aside) It cannot, cannot be ! 

(Aloud) — My life and love were yours before I 
knew 
Your name; before I found you aught but 

dream ; 
But now — Oh, give me time! a little time, 
Before I wake. The dream must fade so soon. 
Oh, give me time ! 

After a pause. 

I cannot dream again. 

Alex. : Reality is fairer than your dream. 

Yz. : Reality ! 

Alex. : Is here, my Queen, my Child. 

I would not push you forward to the leap, 
Yet passion rising in me stronger grows, 
And momently increasing makes my heart 
Forget its calculating thought to build 
A future empire's strength from your consent. 
My manhood speaks to you with waking love ; — 

Yzdra steps toward him impulsively. 

You love me then! Confess! 

The expression of pain comes into her face 
again. She turns away. 



42 



Yz. : , It cannot be. 

Alex. : What cannot be? 

Yz. : You do not understand. 

Alex. : Love makes swift conquest of a soldier's 
heart. 
It eats like poison through me, blood and bone. 

The shouting is heard again outside. Alexan- 
der hesitates a moment, looks at Yzdra, and 
then goes to the door. 

Yz. : (Aside) Like poison! Aye, more deadly swift 
in me, 
It shatters like the lightning, leaving naught. 
(Aloud) l^ou do not understand; it cannot be. 

Enter the Brahman, unseen hi/ Alexander. He 
stands looking at Yzdra and raises his hand 
in command, fascinating her with his gaze. 
Alexander motions the troops to he silent. 

Alex. : Beside the feast to-night we now proclaim 
That games be held in honor of the Queen, 
And many prizes, gold and things of worth 
Ourselves will give to those who most deserve. 

77/ r soldiers cheer again. Exit Brahman. 

JUit now let all disperse and rest awhile. 

Another cheer. He stands watching them as 
ill ft/ go. 

The soldiers hail you as their Queen and mine. 
So yield you must; I never fail in aught. 

Yzdra stands motionless gazing straight ahead 
of her. She speaks mechanically without ca- 
dence in her voice. 



43 



Yz. : It may be I shall do it. 

Alex. : Trust me now. 

Yzdra speaks still mechanically as tJiough 
forcing herself to speak, hut there is noio some 
slight modulation in her voice ivhich trembles a 
little. 

Yz. : Ah, King ! I trust your love ; I fain would 
yield; 
My every dream of girlhood changed to life 
Before me stands. A king you are, a man 
Of valour, courtesy and kingly mien 
Beyond my thought. 

Alex. : And yet you love me not? 

She turns toioards him and speaks wildly, put- 
ting all her soul into the words, and desiring 
him to understand her, though realizing that 
he cannot do so, 

Yz. : I love ; yea, love too much ; 'tis love that brings 
Refusal to my lips. One last ideal 
I clutch with straining hands. It cannot be. 
I love you, love you, yet it cannot be. 

Alex. : Nay, then it shall be ! 

He steps toward her quickly, throws his arms 
about her and stoops to kiss her. She pushes 
him back violently and speaks very wildly. 

Yz. : Death ! Your death and mine ! 

Alex.: What mean you? 

Enter the Brahman behind Alexander; they do 
not see him. 



44 

Yz. : Death. Your death and mine. 

It is too much. O Gods, that this should be I 
Alex. : What mean you? 

Yzdra sees the Brahman and staggers toivard 
Alexander, falling to her knees beside him and 
reaching up for his hand. 

Yz. : {To the Brahman.) Go! In pity go! 

Alexander draics away his hand and leaves her 
without support; she falls to the floor. 

Yz. : Oh Gods ! 

Alexander has followed the direction of Yzdra^s 
look and now sees the Brahman, on ivhoni he 
turns fiercely. 

Alex. : What meaneth this? 'Tis thou who must 
exphiin. 

Br. : I know not what she means, but know she 
loves, 
And tliink the maiden's mind must be dis- 
traught 
Vv'ith sudden greatness and the love she owns. 
With thought of vou and your divinitv. 

Alex. : A truce to compliments. 

Hr. : She meaneth naught. 

i*o()r girl, her unused wits go wandering. 
Overcome with i^assion and her sudden joy. 
But I, wlio have some skill with soothing herbs, 
Some knowledge of the mind, will soon restore 
Her reason, make her yield such proofs of love 
As oft a maid, though loving, long withholds. 

Alex. : But now she spoke of death; her death and 
mine. 



45 



Br. : Those words meant naught ; she will unsay 

them soon. 
Yz. : That will I never do. The truth is mine 

And honor, though I die in saving him. 

She rises to her ftiU height and stands facing 
the Brahman, her eyes flashing, her voice 
under control and her face showing perfect 
determination. For the first time, she has 
more force than he and he feels that he has 
lost his power over her. He moves involun- 
tarily toward the door, hut she steps in front 
of him, blocking the way. 

Yz. : He who has played so ruthlessly with lives 
Now shifts to save his own. He dreads the 

change 
To some despised shape, most like himself, — 
Some snake, or slinking jackal; jet his death 
Could not requite me for the evil done. 
For life and love, for hope and womanhood. 
Some subtile torture of the frame and mind 
Are best for thee. 

Turning to Alexander. 

My Liege, I tell you all. 

Alexander steps toward the Brahman. 

Alex. : What hast thou done? 

The Brahman takes a dagger from his robes 
and strikes at Alexander. 

Br. : I shall not die alone. 



46 



Yzdra springs foricard and hits aside the 
Brahman's arm. The dagger falls and Alex- 
ander puts his foot on it. 

Yz. : Nor I. 

Alex. : Attend the Princess. Call the guards. 

Enter Hephaestion with two or three soldiers; 
then Yzdra's women. 

Alex. : Hephaestion, gnard this hoarj demon well, 

And put the others from the selfsame brood 

In chains. Let all be gagged. 

(To the guards.) And you, my friends, 

Talk not unto the troops. 
Heph. : Your will is law. 

Hephaestion and the soldiers lead out the 
Brahman. The women are helping Yzdra to- 
ward the other door. 

Alex. : When you have quite regained your strength 
and calm, 
I come to learn more fully of these things 
That now are dark to me. Whnte'er tlie truth 
'Tis best tlijit we should grace the games to- 
night 

From joined thrones. Tlie P>rahman will be 

safe. 
The secret must remain between ourselves. 

Yzdra goes out supported hij the luomen. Alex- 
ander stands in thought and then takes a gob- 
let from the steps of the couch. 

This wine I pour to Ammon. 



47 



He goes up the steps till he stands above the 
altar, on ivhich he sprinkles a little wine. 

Father, God, 
Be now thine ear attuned to hear my prayer; 
Let now thy heart, though filled with bliss 

eterne. 
Remember once again my Mother's face, 
Where white she lay in some dim woodland 

glade 
And felt thy godhead stooping through the 

dusk 
To crown her beauty. Now remember. King, 
Thy joy, her sorrow, and the child she bore. 
Who here with suppliant hands about thy knees 
Lays claim with double right to aid divine. 
Oh, Ammon, God and Father, hear my prayer ! 
Now guide and guard me. Let thy strength 

be borne 
A shield before me, onward through the world, 
Down paths of honor, u^ the hard ascent 
That valour climbs to wrest from victory 
The wreaths of war and love. Now lead me on 
To world-wide empire and that other throne 
Where in a woman's heart I, crowned, would 

rule. 
Oh, Ammon, God and Father, hear my prayer. 

Re-enter Yzdra. She speaks in a hard, re- 
strained voice. 

Yz. : 'Tis I who come to you. 

Alex.: The truth at once! 

Yz. : I must disclose a deed so vile, so base, 

That demons thinking on it pale with fear, — 
A shame set burning on the front of Ind 
To make her ways a bye-word to the world, 



And leave my name a thing obscene, abhorred, 
For far, revolving years to shudder at. 
Yea, I who but a moment since you loved 
And in a little moment more will hate, 
When once you know my vileness, I who speak, 
Who loved you, King; who love you, love you 

now, 
From birth was dedicate to work your death, 
By means most base. 

Alex. : Oh horror I You I loved. 

Yz. : Ay, ''loved." You will not love me any more, 
But soon will spurn me where I clasp your 

feet, 
Myself, myself abhorring. Hear the tale : 
That Brahman from my helpless infant years 
Mixed poison with my food until I grew, 
Kot knowing this myself, a poisoned thing, 
That starved hyenas did they know, w^ould 

shun. 
You have the truth. 

Alexander starts hack. 

Alex. : No harpy is more foul ! 

Yz. : Tlio gods themselves determined tliis shimld be 
And spoke through him in trance their oracles. 
Obeying which, he made me what I am. 

Alex. : I hear the words but cannot take the sense, 
Tliey have no meaning. 

Yz. : Hear me now and heed, 

^ly kiss is poison and my love is death. 

Alex. : Your love is death. 'Tis false. That cannot 
be. 

Yz. : No serpent is more deadly than my lips; 
Lie gave me poison till my life was charged 
Wilh liorror, nameless, loathsome and accursed. 
Then he with Poros plotting, sent me here 
To win your death. 



49 



Alex. : But you have saved my life. 

Yz. : I love you, Kiug. 

Alex. : I cannot think 'tis true 

You have this power. 
Yz. : I killed a helpless child. 

The poison takes a few short hours to work. 
Alex. : This is too horrible. 
Yz. : And yet, 'tis true. 

Alex. : The horror grapples strongly with my love. 

I love and loathe. Love's wound was swift and 
deep. 
Yz. : You could not love a loathsome think like me. 
Alex. : You saved my life. We must take time for 
thought. 

Ere night I will inform me of the truth 

If this could be. It passes all belief. 
Yz. : Too true it is. The child I kissed was killed. 

My youth was passed alone with one old 
nurse, — 

The Brahman's tool, who feared my deadly 
touch ; 

There is no room for doubt, the Eajah knows. 
Alex. : From him and from the Brahman will I 

learn. 
Yz. : Think not too hardly of me. Speak some word. 

Alexander starts toward her impulsively 
and then draws hack showing both love 
and aversion. 

Alex. : Love lingers yet, I cannot cast it out. 
Yz. : The fault was theirs alone, though mine the 
doom. 

When first I made discovery of my curse 

They gave me choice of winning you or death, 

And then I loved you. 
Alex. : Zeus ! My love is strong ; 

My horror too. I must take time for thought. 



50 
Enter the Page ivith numerous soldiers. 

Page : The soldiers seek your orders for the games. 

Alex. : I go with you at once. And you, my Queen, 
Farewell. I pray you grace our feast tonight, 
Perchance by then we may devise some plan. 
And see more clearly things that now seem 

dark. 
I humbly take my leave. 

Yz. : Farewell, my Lord. 

The soldiers cheer. 

Some: Long life! 

Others : and love unto the King and Queen ! 

Yzd7^a and Alexander look at each other sadly 
and then go out hij separate doors. The stage 
is darkened for a moment. 

When the stage again becomes visible on the 
right is a platform hearing a table and two 
thrones; on the left a platform icith a table and 
throne. On the tables are golden drinking 
Clips. Bcloir each platform is another table. 
Glares siiind waiting to serve. A cheer is heard 
outside and then enter Taxiles, preceded by a 
sniulf bodyguard and followed by the chief men 
of the kingdom. Tariles takes the throne on 
the left, the guards stand behind him and the 
others range themselves beloto. A louder 
and more prolonged cheer, followed by the 
Macedonian battle-cry is heard, and then Alex- 
ander enters. Behind him come Ilephaestion, 
other Greek Generals, one Persian and Proteas. 
Then follow three of the Cavalry Companions 
as a guard. These are dressed in their own uni- 
form, I/ephaestion iccars Persian costume and 



51 



the other Greek Generals are dressed in the 
Macedonian manner. Alexander icears a com- 
hination of the Persian and Median royal cos- 
tumes. He goes to the vacant throne which is 
the farther from the stage of the two. Taxiles 
rises and they exchange salutes. Hephaestion 
seats himself on the steps just heloio Alex- 
ander. Proteas after prostrating himself, 
stands to one side and the others take seats at 
the table. While they are doing this, Alexander 
talks aside to Hephaestion. 

Heph. : How fares my Lord? 

Alex. : The Queen has told me all. 

Heph. : Some fearful thing? 

Alex. : Most fearful and most strange. 

She saves my life disclosing treachery. 
Heph.: Of whom? 

Alex. : Of Poros and the Brahman both. 

Heph. : The Rajah too? 
Alex. : He also knows the plot. 

I have learned all biit will not tell you all. 

The Princess comes to grace our festival, 

But for the absent men make some excuse; 

Hephaestion rises. 

Heph. : The Emperor bids me tell what all should 
know, — 
The reason why we lack tonight two guests, 
Whose absence something mars our festival. 
The Rajah of Abhishara prepares 
With necessary haste his messages. 
W^hich tell of how the embassy has sped : 
His presence much would grace our company, 
His absence dulls our joy. The Brahman old 
Overwearied with the burden of his years, 
W^hich bore not easily the journey here, 



52 

Betakes himself to rest and lonely thought, 
As is the custom with philosophers 
Who find their pleasure in the mind, and scorn 
Such joyous usages as games and feasts. 
The Princess Yzdra comes and having her, 
Our lack of these, the absent guests, seems 
naught. 

Alex. : Thou, Proteas, we do at once appoint 
For this one night, to bear our cups to us 
And cheer our mood with talk. Not yet begins 
The feast, nor shall begin until to us 
The Princess Yzdra comes. 

The Troops (Outside) : The Queen! The Queen! 
All hail the Princess Yzdra ! 

All (Within) : Hail, all hail! 

The Princess enters. She is very pale hut 
has perfect control of herself. Alexander 
steps dawn and leads her to the vacant 
throne. Proteas kneeling^ hands her a 
golden cup. 

Alex. : My Princess now, with your most gracious 
leave. 
We will commence our feast and festival. 
And honor you wliose presence honors us. 

Yzdra boirs and makes a gesture of assent. 
Ilcphaestion motions the attendants. Some 
fill the winecups. Others bring in dishes. 
Musicians enter with various Greek instf^u- 
nients and range themselves on the steps of the 
couch at ihe rear of the stage. After an in- 
strumental prelude played on the flutes y the 
Page who sang at the opening of the present 
act sings. 



53 



In all the world I see your face — 
"By niglit, by day^ in every place; 
Where Phoebus burns through western 

skies 
I find the glory of your eyes, 
And Cynthia, silver on the sea 
Your girlhood seems, at rest in me. 

A Greek slave girl sings the ansioerlng 
stanza. 

And when my eyes are closed in sleep, 
Your image safe within they keep; 
In dreams I touch your lips, your hands. 
And breathe the words love understands. 
But waked from dreams I sigh alway 
For you who miss me, night and day. 

Both Together. 

Ah Love, as in the vacant sky 
.. When night is past and dawn is nigh. 

There lives alone one planet's blue, 
^ ^a all my Heaven has only you ; 

^o all my Heaven has only you. 

Zz. : A sweet, sad song. Oh King. 

Ilex. : Love unfulfilled 

Breeds strange illusions. 
iTz. : Yet the singer told 

Of absence only; sadder songs would come 

From one who sought the bourne where Life 
meets Death, 

And smiles to see its passion changed to peace^ 

In vast annihilation, finding calm 

Unending, timeless, senseless. 



54 



Heph. : Passion's songs 

Come undefeated, struggling through the void 
From singers hushed in Hades who can give 
To love its only immortality. 

Yz. : But see, some further pleasure comes to us. 

Enter Greek dancing girls. They dance 
to an accompaniment of the players. Dur- 
ing all this scene, the feast is in progress. 
Proteas says nothing hut has comic busi- 
ness such as stealing icines and food,. and 
approaching the King and Yzdra each 
time ivith a pronounced obeisance. He is 
evidently filled with a sense of the im- 
portance of his office and orders about the 
servants with arrogance. 

Alex. : My Queen, how pleases you our Grecian 

dance? 
Yz. : I like it well and would see more of them. 

The music chimes a sadness like mine own. 
Alex.: {Aside) Be not so sad. 
Yz. : {Aside) What help is there for us? 

Heph. : The Queen I trust ere long will lead us back 

To watch her beauty conquer Macedon. 
Yz. : I would be glad of that. 
Heph. : What have we here? 

Enter a Hindu juggler with his attend- 
ants. While he is performing two or three 
of the famous Hindu tricks, Proteas stands 
open-7nouthed in amazement and forgets 
to fill the cups. After the first trick Pro- 
teas speaks, but keeps his eyes upon the 
Uindu. 

Puo. : My Liege, I think he must be half divine; 
No mortal man could do such wondrous things. 



5S 



Heph. : Amazement fills me. 

Alex. : Yea, 'tis very strange. 

During the second trick Proteas shows in- 
creasing fear and at the close he starts to 
prostrate himself before the Hindu. 

Alex. : Stand up. Stand up. 

Heph. : This thing is wonderful. 

Alex. : To Yzdra. 

Our Grecian wisdom seems but poor indeed, 
Beside your eastern learning. 

Heph. : Socrates 

For all his knowledge could not reach to this. 

Yz. : Our thought is old, yet stretches upward still ; 
Onward and upward till it clasps the gods, 
But all is impotence when sorrow comes. 
It cannot free the heart where anguish dwells 
Or dry the smallest of a woman's tears. 

Alex. : Yet courage often wins what thought gives 
up -* 

And hews its way to sunlight from the dark. 

Yz. : Aside, touching her breast. 
'Tis midnight here. 

Alex. : I see a sluggish dawn. 

At the close of the third trick, the soldiers 
outside are heard. 

The Soldiers. 

The games! Do not forget the games! The 
games ! 
Alex. : Indeed, we had forgot. The soldiers wait. 

Rising. 

Do you lead on unto the games and soon 
The Queen and I will follow ; first we hold 
Some further conference of private things. 



56v 



Taxiles rising^ hoios to Alexander and^ 
Yoidra and goes out folloived by his train, 
and then by the Greeks. Alexander and 
Yzdra alone come down to the center of 
the stage, 

Yz. : What have you done? 

Alex. : I know the awful truth ; 

The oracle was clear ; I must believe, 

And he who voiced the god confirms it now ; 

There is no room for doubt. 
Yz. : Then none for hope. 

I know you cannot love me any more. 
Alex. : I cannot choose but love in spite of all. 
Yz. : It cannot be your love is like mine own 

That rends me, speechless, with its agony. 
Alex. : But one poor way I see. 
Yz. : Oh, tell me that. 

Alex. : A strange, sad way it is and leads to death. 
Yz. : To death but not to love. 
Alex. : To love fulfilled. 

Then death. 
Yz. : Ah, love fulfilled is all I crave ; — 

To cling unto your lips, then welcome death 

And throw life's emptied g;)blet in the dust. 

I love too much, for life beyond your arms 

Has naught for me. 
Alex. : And naught for me, oh Queen. 

This love is strong indeed, his arrows wound; 

And I, the conqueror, who thought to rule, 

Am bowed in vassalage; the world and life, — 

^Ij joy of conquest and the stress of fight 

Seem nothing more to me. 
Y^"^ : Yea, love is strong, 

It bows me, sways me, fills me, takes away 

My power of tliought; I only crave to come 

Unto your arms then hide myself in death. 

But you? Whatever happens, you will live. 

Now tell your plan. 



57 



Alex. : To yield ourselves to Fate. 

Yz. : You cannot mean to die, accepting all 

Tiie horror and the shame of such a death ; 

So young, in mid career, for my dread love, — 

That foul, polluted thing! 
Alex.: {Sadly hut firmly.) Yet this I mean; 

But not at once ; one further deed I do. 

And then the world-wide empire won, I take 

The crown and die. 
Yz. : I will not have it so ! 

Alex. : My love is stronger than the bonds of life. 
Yz. : Very tvildly and with all possible intensity. 

He loves as I! 

She springs toivard him. 

I do accept your love. 

Alex. : But one thing more I do before the end ; 
I thirst for vengeance on the dastard king 
Who planned this coward's trick and poisoned 
you. 

Yz. : Sloicly and thought fully. 

My people expiate my Father's fault. 
I grieve for them but grieve not much for him 
Who justly falls. He gave no love to me, 
And yet the ending of my ancient race 
Through me, brings sorrow. 

Alex. : Love forgotten seems. 

Y^z. : x\h, no ! A moment's grief and that is all. 

Be swift and sure, my Father's host is strong. 

Alex. : Or weak or strong, I shall defeat them soon. 
Then vengeance satisfied, world-empire Avon, 
We drink our cup of passion, yield to Fate. 

Yz. : Ah ! love is strong ! 

Alex. : I do not fear to die. 

'Tis best to seek the shades with blazing 

course, 
A star across the night, not slowly droop 



58 



When men have half forgot how once you 
shone. 
Yz. : Yea, that were good, to live one perfect hour, 

Then fall like stars while all men stand amazed. 
Alex. : There seems no other way for you and me. 
Y^z. : What do you with the Brahman? 
Alex. : He shall go 

With ignominy heaped, and if he will 

May tell his jackal king the lion comes. 

Tomorrow morn shall see our march begun. 
Yz. : Ah Love, do swiftly this,— your last great 
deed, 

And then we drain the cup, let come what will. 
Alex. : It cannot come too soon. 
The Soldiers (outside) : The King! The King! 

Enter Hephaestion. 

Heph. : The soldiers grow impatient. 

Alex. : Now, we come. 

(Exeunt.) 

End of ACT II. 



59 

ACT III. 

Scene I. — A Corridor in the Palace of Poros. 
Scene II. — Yzdra's tent in Alexander's camp on 

the afternoon before the battle of the 

Hydaspes. 
Scene III. — Outside the tent of Poros. 
Scene IV. — Yzdra's tent after the battle. 



Scene I. 



A corridor in the palace of Poros, Poros 
discovered. Enter Prince, 

pR. : Again I greet you, Sire. 

Po. : Be welcome, Son. 

No news has reached me yet. I would we knew 

What so delays the Brahman's messenger. 
Pr. : My mind forebodes some dire mischance. 
Po. : And mine. 

I never played this hypocritic game 

With any zeal, a man should fight with arms. 
Pr, : The way we took was pointed by the gods, 

But still my mind keeps boding ill on ill. 

There must be news ere long. 
Po. : My patience wanes. 

Pr. : What made you send the Princess Yzdra's 
nurse 

So hotly after her? 
Po. : How knew you that? 

Pr. : She passed me speeding swiftly on her way. 
Po. : 'Twas best the Princess should have someone 

by 

Who knew her fearful secret and who could, 
If need there were, sustain the Brahman's 
plans. 



60 



She reared the girl and she is worthy trust. 

How fared you on your errand? 
Pr. : Well, my Lord, 

If present plans should fail, in three day's time 

You can command an army worthy you. 

I found the separate chiefs each well-disposed 

With love and loyalty to serve your cause; 

They all have raised their men and wait your 
word. 
Po. : That news is good ; should our first arrow fail 

The bow is bent to send the second forth. 

But look, who comes? 
Pr. : It is the Brahman, Sire. 

Po. : The Brahman ! 
Pr. : Ay, all woe-begone and weak, 

With clotted hair, his garments soiled and torn, 

He scarce can stand. 

Enter Braliman. 

Po. : What brings you in this plight? 

Br. : To arms ! to arms ! there is no other Avay. 

Po. : The King refused her then. 

Br. : He learned our plot 

And pale with anger marches on you now. 

Pr. : How could he learn the plot? 

Po. : No time for words ! 

Go you, send messengers to all the chiefs. 

Br. : The Princess learned by accident her power. 
And through a woman's weakness told the king. 

Po. : He did not doubt the truth? 

Br. : How could he doubt? 

I said that fever might have killed the child. 
But she had told him of the oracle 
And none there is who disbelieves the gods. 

Po. : It was the tl'uth that fever killed the child. 

Pr.: 'And not the poison? 



1*0. : No, for I have learned 

Its mother died of fever just before, 
And that was why it wandered off alone ; 
Its death proved nothing. 
P^- * Nor disproves it now ; 

We need no proof beyond the oracle. 
Br. : If there is one who doubts the truth of dreams, 
Or thinks the words I uttered in my trance 
Were not directly spoken by the God 
Let him believe the Princess is the same 
As other maidens are. 

^^' ' None such there is ; 

We cannot doubt a dream or oracle. 

Po. : Or true, or false, it does not matter now. 
The war is on our hands ; the Grecian comes. 
Where is Abhisara? 

^^' ' Two nights ago 

He left me while I slept and took away 
The scant provisions we had gathered up. 

Pr. : It cannot be that he is traitorous. 

Po. : Go you and do o^r bidding, raise the host. 
Though all should traitors prove, ourself will 

fight 
And be this Grecian's death or die by him. 
A death of valour passes life in peace 
When peace dependeth on captivity. 

Exit Prince. 

And you, our royal curse be on your head. 
Our curse, and if it come, the country's doom. 
No more will I be led from valour's course 
To follow darkly twisting paths of stealth, 
Or prop my kingdom on uncertain dreams 
That make me scorn myself, and leaned on, fail. 
Br. : My Lord — 



62 



Po. : ^^y? hear me speak. When first I gave 

Consent to jield the Princess to your will, 
My mind foreboded fearful things to come, 
But now I fight, my own brave way is left. 

Br. : And I, with you, will face the Grecian darts, 
Inciting all to fight for King and Gods. 
My plan has failed, some demon thwarted us, 
So now I aid your courage in the field. 
I faint for lack of food. 

Po. : Go you to rest. 

And I will make provision for the war. 
Then later, we will hear your tale rehearsed. 

Curtain. 



Scene II. 



Yzdra^s tent in Alexander's camp on the 
hank of the Hydaspes. It is the afternoon 
hefore the battle. Yzdra discovered re- 
dining on a couch; slaves are fanning her. 

Enter Nurse. 

Nurse: My Lotos Flower, your Father bade me 

take 
His swiftest elephant to follow you. 
Lest in this strange new world you feel the 

lack 
Of me and my accustomed services. 
I missed you many times but find at last. 

Yzdra rising furiously motions the slaves 
to leave. As they go, she stands looking 
at the Nurse. — Then breaks out in uncon- 
trolled passion. 



(13 



Yz. : Thou here ! Thou dare to come and face me 
now! 

I know thee, what thou art, and scorn thy wiles 

Of unforgiven infamy. 
Nurse: My Child! 

Yz. : Nay, "Child" not me! I know thee, know my- 
self, — 

The thing that thou hast made me. Vengeance 
waits. 
Nurse: You mean my death! 
Yz. : Ay, death ! Look not about ; 

Thou canst not fly, but when thou goest from 
hence 

Thou goest a stricken thing, with poison filled, 

To die a hateful death. 
Nurse : Not that ! Not that ! 

Yz. : 'Tis Justice only, dost thou tremble now 

In pity of thyself who pitied not 

Thy foster-child? 
Nurse : jOh, grant some other death 

Less awful in itself, aught else but this ! — 
Yz. : It might be that the poison would not work, 

Despite the Brahman's wisdom. 

Gods, dear Gods, 

How happy would we be if this were proved ! 

And we could live and love and rule the world, 

Forgetting all this coil of hate and tears. 

Yzdra begins these lines ivith a start of 
surprise as the idea strikes her and as she 
speaks them half to herself, and thinking 
of Alexander her manner becomes grad- 
ually less hard and her passion subsides 
till at the close she speaks dreamily with 
nothing in her voice and eyes but her love 
for him. 



04 



Nurse : It could not fail. Forgive. My death is 

sure. 
Yz. : Pleading for some confirmation of her hope. 

You know that death is sure? 
Nurse: Forgive me, Spare ! 

Yz. Wildly again. 

Didst thou spare me! Nay, then I make the 
test! 

^he springs toward her and then stops 
suddenly a look of hewilderment on her 
face. 

Yz. : I cannot seem to do it. 

Nurse : Spare me ! Spare ! 

Yz. : I could have done it once. 

Nurse : Forgive me. 

Yz. : Yea, 

I cannot help myself, for love has come 
And tamed me from my wildness. Go in peace. 
Yes, go! Since life is sweet, I give thee back 
Thy few grey years and suffer all myself. 

The Nurse looks at her doubtfully for a 
moment and tit en hurries out. Yzdra 
throws herself exhausted on the couch. 

After a- pause. 

Yz. : She really seemed to love me years ago. 

After a shorter pause. 

I wonder if my garden looks the same 
And if those climbing roses reached the tree. 
Perhaps the Nurse could tell me. 

(^he calls) Nurse. Oh, Nurse! 

She is not there. I never shall forget 



65 



The garden, nor those childish dreams I 

dreamed, 
And told them to the roses. 

She goes to the door to look for the Nurse 
just as a slave ushers in Hephaestion. 

Heph. : Greetings, Queen. 

Yz. : Be welcome^ General. 

Heph. : But why so sad? 

Yz. : I cannot quite forget my garden home 

Nor all the dreams I dreamed among the hills; 

And sometimes in my sleep I seem to wake 

And feel the flowers that I loved so Avell, 

Unseen, but all about me, everywhere. 

And sometimes, even when the king is by, 

And speaks of love to me and I to him, 

A sound or scent will bring my garden here ; 

Then all the past comes flooding to my eyes ; — 

It is a part of me and must remain. 

But this IS naught -to you. You bring me news? 

Heph. :' The usual news; — ^^that Alexander longs 
To' see you once again. He sent me here 
To ask if he might come at once. 

Yz. : ' ^ Ah, yes; 

'Tis afternoon and every crawling hour 
Since yestermorn when last I saw the King 
Has stretched to double length its weariness. 

Heph. : The king but now returned to the camp. 

Yz. : How fared his scouting party? 

Heph. : Well, I think. 

Your Father's host upon the other shore. 
Keeps close to camp, and we must linger here, 
Until the flood abates; we cannot cross. 
The King may come at once? 

Yz. : Yes, bid him come. 

Heph. : My feet are shod with Hermes sandals, 
Queen, 
To bear with swiftest speed your messages. 



66 
Ewit Hephaestion. 

Yz. : Yet once again he comes, yet once again 
My passion springs to meet him. 

She looks at herself in a burnished copper 
mirror. 

Fair I am. 

That matters not, he could not love me more, 
If all the gods should with each other vie 
To heap divine perfections on my head ; 
He would not love me less, if beauty changed 
To strange deformity. 

Enter Alexander. 

Ah, Lover, King, 
So long has absence seemed, so very long! 

Alex. : Yea, like eternity to souls unblessed. 

Yz. : But are you wholly mine? When you are here 
I would not have you King or General, 
Or aught I cannot share, but mine, and mine, 
And mine alone, the well loved lover only. 

Alex. : All yours I am. The world outside is like 
Some dim remembered dream when one 

awakes ; 
My life is yours, and soon — this night per- 
haps — 
I die to hold you closely, mine indeed. 

Yz. : So soon? 

Alex. : The battle will be joined tonight. 

Yz. : Ah. do not risk the battle ! 

Al^x. : This one deed 

To crown my life before the eyes of men, 
I do, and then at last, world-empire won, 
I yield me to my passion, hold you close. 
My own indeed; the world and life forgot 
In love's full ecstasy of eyes and lips. 



67 



My love is strong and binds me more than Fate, 
To work its will. 

Yz. : The gods protect you, Love ! 

Do not neglect to send me messages 
Of how the battle goes. Kemember her 
Who waits and watches through the lonely 

hours, 
A prey to all the fears love conjures up. 
And yet, I would some other course had led 
To love fulfilled than this sad way we climb 
Who mount upon the corpses of my kin 
To victory. My Father and my race, 
Our ancient name, through me are doomed to 
death. 

Alex. : They fall, but love upon them stands alone; 
And love is all that counts; for love I give 
My lordship of the world, and you your race. 

Yz. : My love may not, at last, so fatal prove ; 
I sometimes hope again. 

Alex. : That cannot be. 

At first I doubted if the Brahman's lore 
Had probed so deep the secrets of the gods ; 
But ever when I hoped a phantom came 
From that pale child who wandered near your 

home 
And felt the magic of your poisoned lips. 

Yz. : No hope ! 

Alex. : And then so real this horror seems, 

So present to my sight disgraceful death ; 
I tremble at the leap that love compels. 
But will not falter here upon the brink. 

Yz. : The curse was mine, be mine alone the doom ! 
I will not have you share my fate and shame ; 
The world is yours with life and other loves. 
Let death be mine, I bare me to the stroke, 
Beseeching death from you to give you life — 
The only thing my fatal love can give. 



Yzdra hares her hosom, imploring the stroke. 

Alex. : Nay, Love, put by that thought ; we two are 
strong 

To face our destiny unfaltering; 

I am resolved to make you all my own — 

And ere to-morrow's stars I come to you 

To call you "Bride," though Death be there to 
smite. 
Yz. : It shall not be ! My love implores your hate, 

I clasp it to nry breast. Oh, leave me now 

And let me take myself where nevermore 

Your eyes shall fill vrith horror at my sight ; 

Or, let me go and hide myself in death ; 

The grave alone can cover shame like mine. 
Alex. : Come life, come death, our hearts are joined 
for both. 

And love shall be fulfilled. 
Yz. : Then go, my King, 

And certain victory attend your course; 

Then hide within my arms-ypur sovereignty. 
Alex. : I shall not fail. The troops are on the march 

And I, their leader, tarry here too long. 

Love give me wings to win and come again ! 
Yz. : Farewell, and may the gods fulfil my prayers 

To bring you swiftly back, victorious. 

Curtain. 



69 

Scene III. 

Outside the tent of Poros. Poros and attend- 
ants discovered. A furious storm. Enter 
Brahman. 

Br. : What news? They say the Greeks attempt to 

cross. 
Po. : Ay, up the stream, just where the river bends, 

A sentry saw them struggling in the flood. 

I sent the Prince to beat them down the bank ; 

They will not win against the tide and him. 
Br. : What troops went with the Prince to meet 

them. Sire? 
Po. : A scanty force, but strong enough to quell 

This mad attempt. Who but a hare-brained boy 

Would risk the crossing, and on such a night? 

Enter a messenger. 

Mess. : To arms ! The- Prince has fallen and the 
Greeks. 

Their army in array, are marching down. 
Po. : The Prince has fallen ! Is our son then dead ! 
Mess. : They reached the shore some moments ere 
he came; 

His force they overwhelmed and him they slew. 
Po. : Nay then to arms ! let each man fight for king 

And country, for his life, his home, his lands. 

To arms ! to arms ! Ourself will lead the van. 

Enter a second messenger. 

Po. : Well slave, thy news? 

Mess. : The news is black, my Lord. 

Po. : It better fits the night. What is it? Speak. 
Mess. : The Rajah of Abhisara has sent 
To Alexander messages of peace 



70 



And offered firm alliance 'gainst your state. 

Br. : The curse of all the gods be on his head. 

Po. : How know you this? 

Mess. : A captive Greek has told. 

Po. : Enough ! This night will see a battle fought 
That shall surpass the glories of our Ind 
And dim the deeds of all our storied chiefs. 
We shall be sung of in the coming years 
And taught to children w^hen their infant hands 
First learn to draw the bow ; our names shall be 
Familiar to their ears, like household words 
For honor, courage, strength and hardihood. 
Yea, while we figlit, the souls of heroes dead 
Will turn them backward on the way to Brahm 
And think a moment of remembered fields 
Not told of more than this shall ever be. 
Attend me all, your king to conquest leads. 

All. : Lead on, lead on ! 

Curtain. 



Scene IV. 

The same as Scene II. Yzdr^a is reclining on a 
couch; the Greek slave girl is in attendance. 

Slave. : My Queen, I sing you now the last sad song 
That Sappho Avrought in Lesbos, long ago. 

Yz. : Oil, sing it not ! No rumor yet has come 
Of how the battle goes. I cannot heed 
Your minstrelsy when heart and ears and eyes 
Are strained to meet his tardy messenger. 

r 

She goes to the door and listens. 

The King succeeded in his mad attempt 
To cross the swollen river. Night and storm 



71 



But made it worse. He could not brook delay 
But would lead on, though all the elements 
Conspired with Poros darkly for his doom. 

Enter Hephaestioii fresh from the field, 

Heph. The field is won and Alexander comes. 

Yz. : Oh, gods, I give you thanks! But is he safe? 
Without a wound? 

Heph. : Without a wound he comes. 

We gained this day a greater victory 
Than Issus or Arbela. Poros lives. 

Yz. : For that again I thank the holy gods. 

Heph. : He fell into our hands with many wounds. 
The Rajah held aloof; the Prince succumbed 
To greater force, though long he fought and 
well. 

Yz. : Poor Prince and Brother ! Would that he had 
lived. 
And yet I do not know. It would have been 
Most hard for him to miss his ancient state, 
To see his country vanquished and his king. 
Our race is proud. How went the battle then? 

Heph. : We led our army toward the Indian camp 
And Poros marched on us, until he found 
A plain and halted ; there in full array 
Each drew his army up. We turned their flanks 
And then, their rear attacking, hemmed them in. 

Yz. : The slaughter lasted long? 

Heph. : They would not yield 

Until their leader sank beneath his wounds 
And left the field; for while his strength held 

out 
He led with wondrous valor, charge on charge. 

Yz. : I oft have heard him called a king indeed, 
A man of noble bearing, strength and skill — 
One born to rule, and not to know defeat. 



72 



Through what strange ways the gods work out 

their will I 
Not long ago I sought to serve the state, 
And now I scarce can w^eep my country's doom, 
My father's bondage and my brother's death; 
So love has changed me from the thing I was. 

Heph. : But had they won it had been worse for 
you— 
For then had Alexander found defeat. 

Yz. : Aside. 

And now finds death. 

{To Hephaestion.) It all seems horrible. 

Heph. : On victory does horror still attend — 
A bird of evil omen swooping down 
To wet its dripping beak with loathsome food 
And spread defilement on the pomp of war. 

Yz. : Looking at Hephaestion. 

The victors even, come with stained arms. 

Heph. : Last night unusual horrors marked our 
strife — 
The swollen stream and then the tempest dread 
That shot the firmament with thunder bolts. 
The very gods themselves seemed taking part — 
The Indians to protect Wiq native host, 
While all Olympus rallied to our aid, 
Assisting Amnion's son to victory. 

Yz. : It was a dreadful night ! 

Heph. : More dread to me 

Than any tumult of the elements 
The Hrahman seemed. 

Yz. : Was he amid the fray? 

Heph. : He spoke as prophets speak, like one in- 
spired ; 
And ever where the battle fiercest raged 
He came, desi)ising death, to urge the troops 
With imprecation and encouragement. 
A dreadful sight he was; with blazing eyes 



f3 



And voice that shrilled with anger of the gods 
He urged the Indians on, and where he came 
Like some avenging Fury, all the Greeks 
Fell back dismayed and dropped their blood- 
stained spears. 
At length a far-shot arrow found him out; 
But even then, upon his elbow raised, 
He still urged on his men ; at last he swooned. 
The Greeks around him pressed with wondering 

looks 
And took him captive. Soon they bring him 
here. 

A confused shouting is heard. Hcphaestion 
goes to the door. Enter soldiers half carrying 
the Brahman. He is very weak and his robes 
are stained and torn; hut the moment he sees 
Yzdra he straightens up and stands supported 
hy the soldiers. Yzdra looks at him^ showing 
first defiance^ then pity, followed, as he raises 
himself, hy fear. 

Br. : Oh thou, who workest thus thy country's doom, 
Let horror seize thee and let darkness fall 
Upon thy lustful eyes till love be turned 
To loathing. Siva, Vishnu, Brahm, delay 
Not now to change with god-sent doom 
This traitor to the thing she most abhors. 
Let her in death find no forgetfulness, 
But still remember through a million lives 
Her crime, her scorned name, her father's woe, 
Her nation's bondage and my djdng curse. 
And let her burn with passion, evermore 
Unsatisfied and seeking still the love 
That made her traitorous to king and gods. 
Let her in death — 



74 /^ 

A paroxysm of pain comes to liim, he pauses. 

Yz. : Oh, spare me ! Spare me more ! 

Br. : Let her in death no respite gain or peace ; 
And let her hear forevermore her name 
A word of infamy in common mouths. 

Yz. : Oh, spare me I Spare me this ! 

Enter Alexander. He has bathed and anointed 
himself since the battle. Yzdra springs to him 
for protection. 

Ah, Lover, King! 
Br. : Thee too I curse. 
Alex. : Nay, curse thyself, for thou 

Art author of thine own calamity. 
Br. : With cheek unblanched and bosom undefiled 
I die, for I am guiltless. I alone 
Gave heed to Siva's will, for Poros scorned 
The gods, and she — 
Alex. : She clove to love and honor. 

Br. : The gods have sent swift vengeance and the 
blow 
Has glanced to me, who innocent, now die 
In their disaster whelmed, 

I stifle ! 

Air! 

My curse be on you both. 

Oh gods! 

I die! 

He falls to the floor. Eephaestion goes over 
and examines him to see if he is dead. Yzdra 
stands hiding her face against Alexander who 
has one arm about her supporting her. 



75 



Heph. : His ghost has gone to join the shades below; 

On this side Lethe's stream it long will wail, 

Cast out from either world. 
Alex.: {To the soldiers.) Bear him away. 

And do you leave us too Hephaestion. 
Heph. : I will, my Liege. Farewell. 
Alex. : Live long, my friend. 

You have my orders, let them be fulfilled. 

Hephaestion goes out. Yzdra raises her head 
from Alexander's shoulder and holds him at 
arms length. They look at each other in silence 
for a moment. 

Alex. : At last we are together, all the world 

Shut out. 
Yz. : I have you with me, wholly mine. 

Alex. : The Brahman's curse has made you pale 

with fear. 
Yz. : I came into your arms and felt their strength, 

And then I did not heed him any more. 

The wound he gave is healed, and now at last 

I come to you, for I am Avholly yours, 

To do with w^hat you wish. 
Alex. : My love exceeds 

The measure I had dreamed that love could fill. 
Yz. : From conquest come, you seem a god indeed. 

And I a lowly worshipper who wait 

To pour the pure libation of my love 

Upon your altar. 
Alex. : Nay? 'tis you who seem 

Divine in giving thus divinely all 

Yourself. 
Yz. : 'Tis love that makes us both divine 

And lifts us from the round of petty things 

To live above the gods, know more than they. 



7C 



Alex. : Yon bow my heart in giving tlins yourself ; 
I kneel as tliongli before some awful fane, 
So pure, so dread, I dare not enter in, 
And scarcely dare to look where burning white, 
Beyond all myster^^, Love sits enthroned. 

Yz. : I only have a woman's heart to give — 

A simple thing and common, as it seems; 
But you give up the world, world-wide renown, 
And this, Avithout the fruits of victory ; 
I would not have you, Love, give up so much. 
All, yes, I would, and yet I can but doubt 
When now you see the two diverging ways ; 
One short but very sweet through love to death, 
And one that leads through jenTs of fame and 

praise 
To honored age, if you would not prefer 
To walk the longer path, and live your life. 
I have had many thoughts since yesterday ; — 
It made me think to have the end so near. 

Alex. : There is no choice but one — through love to 
death. 

Yz. : Ah, yes, there is ! The other path that here 
Seems dark and hard to tread, with naught 

beyond, 
AN'ould soon grow easy for your feet, and soon 
You would look forward brightly, not look 

back. 
Forgetting love. Then I, from some lone place, 
Would see your glory in the setting sun 
And send my messengers to hear your voice 
And tell me of your looks. 

Alexander, with profound pity in his eyes, 
opens his arms and stands waiting for her to 
come to him. She hesitates a moment. 



7f 



Yz. : Dear Love, be not. 

So sad ; or yield to love for my poor sake. 
Alexander spreads out his arms again. His 
voice trembles a little, 

Alex. : You do not know my love is strong as yours. 

He turns frotn her to conceal his emotion and 
goes to the door, lifting the flap and looking 
out. There are golden sunset clouds in the sky 
and between them shines the evening star. He 
fastens the flap so that it stays open, 

Alex. : For you and me there is no path but one. 
See, evening comes and dawn will follow soon ; 
We crowd a life of passion in one night, 
So let us not delay. 

They stand silent a moment. 

Yz. : A single night ! 

Alex. : Tomorrow Hesperus looks not on me; 
I bid the world farewell. You told me once 
You used to dream that souls of heroes dead 
Came back in sunsets. Will you feel me, Love, 
Glow all about you when the west is bright 
In after years? Now quickly come to me; 
The night is very short and death ends all. 

He turns toward her and steps forward, 

Yz. : If you should die I could no longer live. 
One other way there is. You must not die; 
Or leave your hard-won realm without a head. 

Alexander takes a scroll from his girdle. 



78 

Alex. : I here have written out my last commands. 
Hephaestion, who thinks not of my death, 
Will come at dawn, and if I then be dead. 
This shows what course to follow. You, my 

Queen. 
Have India for your realm, and with you stay 
Some Greeks until the country owns your rule. 

Yz. : Not this for me ! I could not live alone 
In solitary grandeur, lacking you. 
All things are better than for you to die. 
So hear my plan. Let passion be controlled, 
And let us live with lips that never meet, 
But joined hearts and hands. 

Alex. : That could not be. 

Not till I drain the certainty of death 
From their excess of sweetness do I live. 

Y^z. : When passion cooled with age we two would go 
Toward death together, happy in our love. 

Alex. : That could not, shall not be ! Not Tantalus 
Can madden so with thirst as I for you, 
And not so hea\'y is the doom he bears 
As thig would be. Life has not aught for us 
But Love's fulfillment. Let us yield to Fate. 

Yz. : The hour I sought has come at last too soon. 

Alex. : No other way there is. Come quickly, now; 
W^e have so long delayed that love is pain. 

Alexander takes off his sword and dagger and 
lays them down. A shout is heard in the dis- 
tance. 

Yz. : What noise is that? 

He goes to the door. 

Alex. : Some tumult in the camp. 

The men are revelling and do not guess 
That I no more shall lead to victory. 



7D 

The watch-fires are seen through the still open 
door. The sunset has now faded froyn the sky. 
He stands looking out toward the camp and 
Yzdra watches him sadly. Then she looks 
down at the dagger^ starts and looks back at 
him. She says nothing, hut the whole course 
of her thought is seen in her face, 

Alex. : They loved me well. 
Yz. : Her voice trembles a little. 

And you, in turn, love them? 
Alex. : They have been still my friends, and they 
with me 
Have much endured ; but now I bid farewell 
To friends and war, and yield myself to love. 

After a pause. 

The men will miss me. 

Stretching out his arms toward the camp. 

Now farewell, farewell, 

Yzdra suddenly reaches her decision, seizes the 
dagger and stabs herself. 

Yz. : Farewell, but not to them. 

Alex. : What have you done? 

Yz. :- The steel works swiftly. 

She falls. 

Alex. : Zeus ! Where is the wound? 

He stoops over her, examining the icound. 

No remedy for this but speedy death. 
Yz. : I die. 
Alex. : If aught divine within me dwells, 



80 



Oh, Ammon, Father, now in sorest need, 

Give aid unto thy son. 
Yz. : No help. I die, 

But you shall live and conquer other worlds. 
Alex. : There are no more to conquer, all is done. 
Yz. : Grieve not for me ; I loved you far too well 

To let you die. 
Alex. : Go not, go not so soon ! 

Yz. : I cannot stay ; but you for love must spare 

My father and my nation. 
Alex. : God ! No help ! 

One kiss ! I come with you. 
Yz. : (Very wildly) Not that ! Not that ! 

Alexander throws himself down beside her and 
kisses her, then he starts up. 

After a pause. 

Alex. : I taste no poison there ! 

Yz. : Not there ! 

Alex. : Too late ! 

It may be that it was not there at all. 
Yz. : With intense bitterness. 

Oh God, too late! too late! 

t^lowly the bitterness leaves her face and in its 
stead comes thankfulness, which in turn yields 
suddenly to radiant joy. 

You will not die! 

She dies. Alexander bends over her for a mo- 
ment, then rises to his full height, stretching 
out his arms toward the sky. 

Alex. : Past help of gods or men, Fate works its 
will. 

Curtain. 



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